Melbourne Response focus of Royal Commission hearing

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse has announced that the Catholic Archdiocese’s Melbourne Response will be the subject of the first public hearing in Melbourne commencing on Monday 18 August 2014.

The Commission has announced that the hearing will look at the principles, practices and procedures of the Melbourne Response. The spotlight will particularly be on the responses to victims of child sexual abuse; and allegations of child sexual abuse against personnel of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne.

The Commissioners will also seek to hear from people who have engaged in the Melbourne Response process, or otherwise sought redress from the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. Individuals who believe they have ‘a direct and substantial interest in the scope and purpose of the public hearing’ were invited to seek leave to appear at the hearing by

4 August.

Late last month the Royal Commission hosted a forum in Melbourne’s CBD specifically for people with a disability.

Royal Commission CEO Philip Reed said the Royal Commission is aware that many people with a disability have experienced child sexual abuse while in the care of an institution.

“We are determined that people with a disability can participate in the process of the Royal Commission.”

The purpose of this event was for people with a disability to find out more about the work of the Royal Commission and how they can share their story.

The public hearing will be streamed live to the public via webcast on the Royal Commission’s website at: